Newly released reports from DeLay’s Legal Expense Trust show that the fund received contributions of at least $250 each from six Blunt staffers from Jan. 1 to March 31. In total, the trust banked $48,000 and spent $34,000 in the quarter.

“I’ve worked for the House leadership as long as Tom DeLay has been a leader, and I wanted to show my support for him,” said Gaston, the Whip office chief of staff. “That support was shared by several of our senior staff.”

Blunt spokeswoman Burson Taylor added that the donations were not all made at one particular event and were not part of any coordinated effort in the office.

While Blunt’s aides were the only Hill staffers to give DeLay at least $250, several of DeLay’s House GOP colleagues gave generously.